PhD and Postdoc Openings in Robotic Materials, Soft Robotics, and Light-Controlled Fiber-Based Systems at ETH Zurich ETH Zurich in Switzerland

ETH Zurich’s Robotic Materials Group is recruiting for an emerging research direction in robotic materials, soft robotics, fiber optics, and light-controlled multifunctional systems. The group is led by Prof. Hedan Bai at ETH Zurich in Switzerland.

Open positions: two fully funded PhD students and two fully funded postdoctoral researchers.

PhD topics include: Multi-State Programmable Robotic Matter and Light-Controlled Variable Stiffness for Soft Robotics. These projects focus on programmable materials, dynamic covalent polymer composites, variable stiffness, multiphysics simulation, soft robotic demonstrators, and reconfigurable devices.

Postdoc topics include: Light-Multiplexed, Fiber-Based Artificial Sensorimotor Networks and Soft Optical Fiber-Based Artificial Muscles for Biomedical Applications. These projects emphasize self-sensing actuators, distributed multimodal sensing and actuation, light multiplexing, microfabrication, fiber-based robots, bioelectronics, and biomedical/clinical applications.

Funding: all positions are fully funded, full-time, fixed-term roles. The PhD positions are 4-year appointments with competitive salary according to ETH standards. The postdoc positions are funded by an ERC Starting Grant and also offer competitive ETH salary.

Eligibility highlights: PhD applicants should have an MS degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Polymer Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field, with a strong research background in dynamic covalent networks, phase-change materials, rheology, stimuli-responsive polymers, or soft robotics. Postdoc applicants should hold a PhD in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, or a related field, with hands-on experience in robot/device design, prototyping, experimental characterization, and TRL 3-5 demonstrations. Experience with micro robots, fiber-based robots, biomedical devices, flexible electronics, or soft actuators is highly desirable.

How to apply: prepare a single PDF with a cover letter, CV, publication list, referee contacts, and transcripts of academic records if available. Submit through the ETH Zurich online application portal only; email applications are not accepted. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled, and the preferred start date is as soon as possible in the third quarter of 2026.

Research keywords: robotic materials, soft robotics, programmable matter, variable stiffness, polymer composites, dynamic covalent networks, optical fibers, artificial sensorimotor networks, light multiplexing, bioelectronics, biomedical devices, microfabrication, multiphysics simulation.